US3893486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accumulator with temperature compensation
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-16
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1993-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A vessel for storing fluid under pressure includes a housing having a chamber in one end thereof into which concentric pistons of differential areas are urged by resilient means. Admission of fluid under pressure to the chamber acts on the differential areas of the pistons moving them simultaneously against the resilient means until the pressure and volume of fluid respectively, each attains a first predetermined value, at which time the pistons are held against further movement, with the piston having the larger area being held against a fixed stop and the piston having the smaller area being held by the resilient means up to a second predetermined value of chamber pressure which represents the maximum fluid working pressure of the system to which the vessel is connected. Any pressure increase in the chamber above the second predetermined value, due to fluid expansion caused by temperature increase, is effective across the differential area between the concentric pistons so that as the chamber pressure exceeds the second predetermined pressure value the piston with the smaller area will move against the resilient means to compensate for volumetric increase.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Meyers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:06
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B7/00; F15B7/06; F15B7/10; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A vessel for storing fluid under pressure comprising: a hollow housing having a closed end connectible to a fluid pressure source; composite piston means including first and second relatively movable portions, said composite piston means being slidably disposed in the housing and forming a variable volume chamber with the closed end; resilient means engaging the first portion of the composite piston means and urging the composite piston means toward the closed end; and stop means against which the second portion of the composite piston means is urged when the pressure and volume of fluid in the chamber have attained predetermined values respectively; said composite piston means being responsive to an increase in volume of fluid above said predetermined volume to increase the volume of said chamber to compensate for fluid expansion due to temperature rise.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A vessel for storing fluid under pressure comprising: a hollow housing having a closed end connectible to a fluid pressure source; composite piston means including first and second relatively movable portions, said composite piston means being slidably disposed in the housing and forming a variable volume chamber with the closed end; resilient means engaging the first portion of the composite piston means and urging the composite piston means toward the closed end; and stop means against which the second portion of the composite piston means is urged when the pressure and volume of fluid in the chamber have attained predetermined values respectively; said composite piston means being responsive to an increase in volume of fluid above said predetermined volume to increase the volume of said chamber to compensate for fluid expansion due to temperature rise.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of the composite piston means comprises two relatively movable pistons having differential areas exposed to the chamber to be acted upon by the fluid stored in the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vessel according to claim 2 wherein said two pistons are concentrically located in the housing so that one of the pistons abuts the stop means and the other piston is resisted by the resilient means to further movement when said predetermined values are attained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A vessel according to claim 3 wherein the piston which abuts the stop means has the larger area and the piston resisted by the resilient means has the smaller area; said resilient means resisting movement only of the piston having the smaller area after the piston with the larger area abuts the stop so that the resilient means will now resist a chamber pressure acting on the smaller area piston which is in excess of said predetermined pressure value preventing relative movement between the pistons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vessel according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means is a coil spring located in the housing and preloaded between the housing and the piston with the smaller area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vessel according to claim 5 wherein said stop means includes a tube member concentric of the coil spring and projecting inwardly of the hollow housing for abutting the piston with the larger area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A vessel for storing fluid under pressure comprising: a hollow housing having a fluid pressure chamber in one end thereof; inner and outer concentrically arranged pistons slidably received in the hollow housing, with each piston having an end exposed to the chamber; preloaded spring means in the housing interposed between the housing and the outer piston and urging the pistons into the chamber; and stop means against which the inner piston is urged to define in conjunction with the outer piston a prescribed volume of fluid trapped in the chamber at a predetermined minimum pressure; said inner and outer pistons being relatively movable to compensate for fluid expansion of the trapped volume of fluid caused by temperature rise; said spring means being effective to prevent relative movement between the pistons up to a given chamber pressure above which said spring means yields, permitting movement of the outer piston.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
A vessel for storing fluid under pressure comprising: a hollow housing having a fluid pressure chamber in one end thereof; inner and outer concentrically arranged pistons slidably received in the hollow housing, with each piston having an end exposed to the chamber; preloaded spring means in the housing interposed between the housing and the outer piston and urging the pistons into the chamber; and stop means against which the inner piston is urged to define in conjunction with the outer piston a prescribed volume of fluid trapped in the chamber at a predetermined minimum pressure; said inner and outer pistons being relatively movable to compensate for fluid expansion of the trapped volume of fluid caused by temperature rise; said spring means being effective to prevent relative movement between the pistons up to a given chamber pressure above which said spring means yields, permitting movement of the outer piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A vessel according to claim 7 wherein said outer piston includes a hollow skirt provided with a shoulder against which the inner piston abuts when acted upon by the chamber pressure up to said given value beyond which said shoulder moves out of abutment with the inner piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vessel according to claim 8 wherein the stop means includes a tube located centrally in the housing and extending axially of the hollow skirt for limiting movement of the inner piston.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vessel according to claim 8 wherein said inner and outer piston ends exposed to the chamber have differential areas which have been preselected so that said pistons will move together as one when exposed to chamber pressure up to said given value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |